Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

218. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of commercial rates that have been collected by all local authorities since 2018 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33334/22]

Work Permits

Bríd Smith

393. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a publication date of the review of atypical work permit scheme for non-European Economic Area fishers given that she recently declared that it was imminent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33490/22]

Data Centres

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of data centres connected to the national grid; the number of new data centre applications presently approved for connection by Commission for Regulation of Utilities; if the Minister will seek clarification from the CRU on whether new rules on connecting data centres apply only to new data centre applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33219/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

126. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the planned total investment in the national public service obligation bus fleet; and the increase anticipated in over all fleet numbers per year to 2030, in tabular form (details supplied). [32014/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

127. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost and number of fully electric vehicle buses to be added to he national fleet between now and 2030, in tabular form. [32015/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the planned increases in bus fleet numbers in public service obligation services in Galway, Cork Limerick and Waterford city services between now and 2030, in tabular form. [32016/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the current total number of buses in the fleet of companies (details supplied); and the number of bus vehicles in these companies that are not included in the public service obligation numbers in tabular form. [32017/22]

Defective Building Materials

Bríd Smith

269. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give a definitive date when the working group specifically tasked with examining the issues of fire safety and structural safety defects in apartments and duplexes built between 1991 and 2013 will deliver it’s report which was due in March 2022; if his attention has been drawn to the immense stress and anxiety that homeowners impacted by these defects continue to experience as a result of significant payments they have been requested to make to remedy defects they are in no way responsible for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32501/22]

School Management

Bríd Smith

552. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if schools (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be compelled to open classes for autistic students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32028/22]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

668. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there have been 511 violent attacks on trans sex workers to date in 2022; her plans to address this; if these attacks are recorded specifically as attacks on trans sex workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32150/22]

Tax Collection

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he has studied a recent paper on wealth taxes and the problems with previous attempts by European Union states to introduce wealth taxes (details supplied); the plans he has in this regard for the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31246/22]

Public Sector Pay

Bríd Smith

105. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if public sector pay talks will form part of a wider process similar to previous social partnership agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31247/22]

National Lottery

Bríd Smith

124. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if unclaimed National Lottery winnings are subject to any oversight or monitoring by the Government in terms of the way and when they are spent; if he has plans to revisit previous agreements on the issue with the winning contractor for the national Lottery; when the current contract expires; if there are plans on the future of the Lottery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31248/22]

Energy Conservation

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a home that previously had some home energy efficiency work carried out is disqualified in cases in which a new home owner seeks to improve the energy efficiency of the home from applying for a new SEAI grant; if the SEAI has specific rules or regulations relating to same, such as the time that has lapsed since the previous grant, the BER rating that was achieved through the previous work, the type of work previously undertaken and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31697/22]

Energy Conservation

Bríd Smith

163. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if all homes that have had some energy efficiency work carried out under SEAI grants are excluded from any further support from the SEAI; if the statistics are available on the work that has been carried out to date that demonstrate the energy efficiencies that have been achieved in terms of reduced CO2 emissions and improved BER ratings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31698/22]

Tax Collection

Bríd Smith

210. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if property tax revenue for the individual electoral areas in each county are available or kept by his Department.
[31657/22]

Insurance Coverage

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if motorists involved in an accident with an uninsured or undetected vehicle will be covered by an organisation (details supplied) for damages caused to their vehicle and or injuries suffered by passengers; the legislation or regulations that decide the particulars which are and are not covered in such circumstances; the plans, if any, that his Department has to amend such regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31346/22]

State Examinations

Bríd Smith

148. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the concerns (details supplied) of students sitting the Leaving Certificate 2022 and their parents regarding the results being released on 31 August 2022; if she plans to address the matter by bringing the release of the results forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31293/22]

Electric Vehicles

Bríd Smith

65. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his views on the recent report on the roll-out of electric vehicles in the State; and the measures that he intends to take to ensure greater provision of charging facilities and greater access to electric vehicles among the general population. [30737/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

68. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport when works are expected to commence on the necessary infrastructural provisions for the dedicated BusConnects corridors in Dublin; the liaison and consultations that will take place between the National Transport Authority and households that have had compulsory purchase order notices on foot of the proposed works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30736/22]

Electric Vehicles

Bríd Smith

77. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to ensure that public transport providers such as Dublin Bus or a company (details supplied) have dedicated electric vehicle chargers at their depots to encourage staff to use electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30738/22]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

80. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will commission a study to examine the impact of fare reductions and the provision of greater fare-free travel on public transport in view of recent moves in Germany and elsewhere to reduce monthly fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30735/22]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

98. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he has had any contact or discussion with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the signing of a S.I. to give effect to changes in the regular wages scheme of CIÉ workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30739/22]

Company Law

Bríd Smith

165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the position in relation to section 357 of the Companies Act of 2014 will be clarified, specifically in relation to the exemption which allows each subsidiary to submit the financial statements of the parent company instead of its own as in the case of a company (details supplied). [29006/22]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

179. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; if he intends to support the referral of the Bill to Committee Stage in advance of the anniversary of the Second Stage reading of the Bill on 30 June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29743/22]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

180. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will publish or make available to the public any submissions made to his Department in relation to the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29758/22]

Environmental Schemes

Bríd Smith

238. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of environmental permits issued by the Environmental Protection Agency; the dates of issue of same for industrial and greenhouse gases to operators of data centres; the total annual purchase of emission allowances through the European Union emissions trading system from these permits in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30317/22]

Energy Usage

Bríd Smith

239. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the new Eirgrid restrictions on data centre connections to the national grid relate only to new applicants or those already approved by Eirgrid for connection; the number of approved but unconnected applications from data centre developments that Eirgrid expect to connect in the coming years; the locations of new data centres that Eirgrid expect to connect to the grid in the coming years; the total extra mw of power expected to be used by these new data centre connections in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30325/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

293. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 176 and 178 of 12 May 2022, if he can specify the actual number of lost or missed departures from each terminal where a scheduled departure did not happen on the route concerned and not just the average of lost kilometres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30009/22]

Statutory Instruments

Bríd Smith

434. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects to make a decision on the proposed statutory instrument, S.I. that relates to the regular wages scheme of CIÉ workers; the expected timeline for signing-off on the proposed S.I.; the discussions and potential difficulties with the proposed S.I.; if his Department has held discussions with other bodies in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30791/22]

Animal Welfare

Bríd Smith

523. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of licences that have been issued in the past ten years for the capture and killing of protected wild birds and animals for educational or scientific purposes; the species and numbers of birds and animals affected; the nature of the educational or scientific purposes; the method of capture; the number that were killed; the number that were released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30142/22]

Animal Welfare

Bríd Smith

524. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to at least 320 birds, five seals, five hares and a rabbit that were among the animals used in experiments at in University College Cork in 2021; if they were captured from the wild; the method of capture; if licences were granted to allow same; if so, the conditions attached to the licences; the number of animals that were killed; if he has concerns that protected animals are being killed in experiments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30143/22]

Data Centres

Bríd Smith

531. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of operative data centres in the State at present; the number of centres approved but not yet built; the number awaiting planning approval; the number of those in the process of being built if these are not captured in the previous categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30318/22]

International Relations

Bríd Smith

898. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the plight of two persons (details supplied) on hunger strike in Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly and with the Israeli authorities. [31003/22]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bríd Smith

1086. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to increase payments to those on the job initiative schemes; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that those working on these schemes are struggling to make ends meet as a result of the spiralling cost of living; the assistance that is available to these workers to stop them falling further into poverty; if there are plans to extend fuel allowance to this cohort; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29195/22]

Child and Family Agency

Bríd Smith

1190. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify the situation in relation to a facility (details supplied); if Tusla has withdrawn this facility’s registration and therefore its ability to access funding under the early childhood care and education scheme; if so, the reason for this action; if the agency has met with any representatives of the facility to resolve this issue; if the agency will now meet with parents, the relevant local authority and staff affected by this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30079/22]

Child and Family Agency

Bríd Smith

1191. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will clarify the position in relation to Pobal funding for a facility (details supplied); if Pobal has withdrawn funding from this facility; if so, the rationale for same; the efforts that the agency has made to resolve any outstanding issues; if the agency will meet with management, local authority personnel and parents affected by this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30080/22]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

1328. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if, a matter (details supplied) will be clarified in relation to the processing of foreign student applications for visa permits to attend education facilities in the State; if all information needed to proceed with an application is available to Turkish and other foreign nationalities is on her Department's website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30021/22]

Residency Permits

Bríd Smith

1338. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications in relation to waiting times and so on for permanent residence cards that have been received by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for permanent residence cards by family members of EEA nationals who have complied with the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015 in each of the years from 2017 to 2022, in tabular form; the number of applications processed annually; and the average length of time to process the applications per year. [30239/22]

Residency Permits

Bríd Smith

1339. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if additional resources in relation to waiting times and so on for permanent residence cards has been allocated to meet the target of six months stated in the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015 to process permanent residence applications. [30240/22]

Residency Permits

Bríd Smith

1340. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if, in relation to waiting times and so on for permanent residence cards these applications for permanent residency for family members of EEA nationals are processed in chronological order; and when the applications currently being processed were received. [30241/22]

Residency Permits

Bríd Smith

1341. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the length of time in relation to waiting times and so on for permanent residence cards, that it takes for family members of EEA nationals to receive temporary stamp 4 permission while the permanent residence application is processed; and if they can travel and return to Ireland while the permanent residency application is being processed. [30242/22]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

1443. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to 35 children with cystic fibrosis who are being denied access to the life-changing drug Kaftrio due to a new pricing dispute between an organisation (details supplied) and the HSE; his views on the fact that those with cystic fibrosis over the age of 12 years have access to the drug and it was also made available to 140 other children aged 6 to 11 years in May 2022 while 35 children in this age bracket have been excluded; if he will take immediate steps to include these children by providing access to the drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29119/22]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

2. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to recent media reports of further delays to his Department’s plans to abolish direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28434/22]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

45. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers that have been given own door accommodation since publication of the White Paper For Ending Direct Provision. [28429/22]

Ukraine War

Bríd Smith

46. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to refugees being accommodated in hotels (details supplied) in Dublin that have not been provided with beds and have been sleeping on floors and on chairs, in unsafe situations for families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28427/22]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

74. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres that have been closed since the publication of the White Paper For Ending Direct Provision. [28428/22]

Ukraine War

Bríd Smith

76. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the recent case of 60 Ukrainian refugees, including children attending school that were given less than 24 hours' notice of being transferred from their accommodation in Dublin to Youghal, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28426/22]

Child and Family Agency

Bríd Smith

84. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that Tusla is not paying the pandemic bonus payment to its staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28430/22]

Energy Policy

Bríd Smith

92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if sectoral carbon budgets targets can be met if the State also supports the building of liquified natural gas terminals and if this is in line with current climate science; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28375/22]